Karens Shackled for Life

As stateless refugees in Thailand, they live in extreme poverty, generally marginalised, accorded no rights and without an identity card they are restricted to the Northern border region. The Thai Government does not harass them but they are easy victims for exploitation by the local landowners.

The women famously wear brass rings around their necks - up to 20 at a time.

Rings on the arms are worn on the forearm from wrist to elbow.

On the legs they are worn from ankle to the knee with lower part covered with cloth.

While myths and legends abound as to why they have developed this bizarre and peculiar culture, their brass rings and long necks have made them popular a tourist attraction.

Human rights groups have labelled these villages "human zoos".

Wearers have to endure pain particularly when the rings are first put on, starting at age of 5. There is some distortion to the collar bone and compression of the rib cage.

It appears that the long neck Karens prefer to be a tourist attraction than suffer oppression at the hands of the military in Myanmar.

Perhaps the optimal way forward would be for the Thai Government to accord the hill tribes basic human rights protection and allow them to practise their own cultures which have evolved over 2000 years.